BACKERKIT EXPLAINED! (Or "A day's worth of Frequently Asked Questions")
over 2 years ago – Wed, Sep 15, 2021 at 12:59:44 AM

Hey everyone!

Whew, what a long day it's been -- we had decided to push out the Surveys yesterday after only 65% of the Smoke Test backers had replied, and it seems that left a number of questions to be answered and settings to be adjusted! Normally, we'd aim for 75% response rate from the Smoke Test to identify bugs, but we didn't want everyone to have to wait excessively long while that randomly selected 5% did their thing on their own personal timetables.

So upon launch, you folks did help zero in on some items to address, and I think we've squashed all of them...?

We addressed some of these in the comments throughout the day, but we'll cut-n-paste some of the more frequently posted answers here:

•  Kickstarter Add-ons have been properly imported. Backerkit missed a switch when importing order data from Kickstarter to assign any Add-ons you picked up on that platform. Since Kickstarter Add-ons is still a Beta-test feature, there are still some manual switches that Backerkit needs to flip to properly account for those non-pledge-tier items. That said, everything should now appear correctly in your orders. 😊 Please let us know if you added something in Kickstarter that you aren't seeing in Backerkit. We'll be sure that you are taken care of!
•  Shipping... is indeed getting expensive. Some of you have noted that your EU/UK/etc shipping is more than what was estimated in the campaign. That's primarily because that estimate was based on data at the time of launching the campaign (and yes, shipping rates are changing that rapidly). We also should have been a bit clearer in the campaign where we mentioned that those numbers didn't include UK/EU VAT or duties. It was mentioned but maybe should have been in bold text or something. The shipping rate matrix was built to include VAT and duties so that you shouldn't have to pay those afterward. 😊 That said, we're just as shocked by how expensive this business is getting, too, especially in trying to sell our titles outside the US. There's just not much we can do about the skyrocketing costs of transportation these days -- the cost of a shipping container has more than quadrupled in the last 6 months alone. And if you're only putting 6-25 orders in that container, the cost does not amortize very well. We've tried to split the difference on all rates, absorbing as much as we can bear, but we're a tiny indie publisher -- believe me, the actual shipping costs for some territories are even higher than what we've baked into this matrix! (And we can't in any good conscience charge $70 for a single book to, say, Japan...!) So please know that we are doing the best we can, but this is a terrible climate for global shipping. 😕
•  VAT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM UK and EU CHECKOUT, since we factored VAT and other import duties into the base shipping price. That should help lessen some of the initial sticker shock by a considerable amount. 😊 The EU/UK VAT laws have been changing rapidly lately, and we're trying to find the best way to handle it. Right now, that is through our UK fulfillment partner (Spiral Galaxy) who is helping to navigate those murky waters. Many of these new VAT laws and requirements are still incredibly baffling, even for our international partners, but we're trying to do the best for as many backers as possible. That might not be everyone, but we want to do what we can to make everyone happy. If you have an individual concern, gripe, or proposal, please message us!
•  Bonus Prints have been added! Those had to be programmatically assigned based on your pledge date, so please check your order now to make sure you have the prints you are expecting added. Unfortunately, the import system isn't able to check what tier you pledged at, be it print or digital, so it assigned the bonuses to everyone who qualified. It's not for us to decide if a person doesn't want to receive the limited edition rewards they rightfully earned. 😊  If you are at a digital-only tier and are being charged postage, it is for those added rewards. If you do not want those rewards, simply message us and we will happily remove them from your order. 😊 (A side note: for those of you who see the shipping price for just those prints coming out to $30 -- that is not necessarily the correct price, in case you might be deciding whether to get them after all... if there isn't an address available in the order, the calculator defaults to "Everywhere Else" which starts at $30. But "Everywhere Else" is merely the catchall for territories not covered in the other regional rate matrixes, so chances are (if you live in the US) your prints wouldn't cost THAT much... $12 maybe, but not $30...)
•  The "STRETCH GOAL BUNDLE" item in your order contains these unlocked bonuses: BONUS PRINTS #1-5, 1x COIN SPINNER, 1x FABRIC PATCH, and 1x LAPEL PIN. The SOLO PLAY MODULE is only free with the Deluxe Boxed Set, but it is available as an add-on (either digital or print). The BONUS MAP and the FOES AND FACTIONS download have been added to all game tiers so you should see those listed within those tier items.  Print copies of SOLO PLAY and FOES AND FACTIONS have also been added to the Deluxe Boxed Set tiers; you should see them in your basket already. All other tiers are free to purchase print copies of those as add-ons. 😊

The first day after sending out surveys is also the most hectic phase of the game. Hands down. That's been the case for our last 13 campaigns -- there will always be questions or corrections or frustrations to address -- and this campaign is no different. 😊 But we hope to learn from each one so that the next one can run even smoother! If you have any suggestions or questions, please don't hesitate to message us! We value your feedback!

In the meantime, if anyone is interested in joining some early CARBON GREY social discussion and forum stuff, check out the CARBON GREY Facebook page! It's still just getting started, but from tiny acorns do mighty trees grow... The more folks chatting and exchanging ideas, the more things that can develop! 😎

Surveys are out!
over 2 years ago – Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 12:58:32 AM

Hi everyone!

Just a very quick update to let everyone know that the SURVEYS HAVE BEEN SENT TO EVERYONE!

The smoke test went smoothly, a few VAT settings that needed adjustment (but the whole new VAT situation is a nightmare for everyone...)

So check your email and let us know if you have any questions. It should arrive from "Magnetic Press Play" on behalf of backerkit.com. If you haven't gotten your survey from that sender in the next few days, send us a message and we will reply with your direct link.

Exciting things are happening! We've got so much cool stuff coming up in the months ahead!

We're so happy you are along for the ride! THANK YOU!!

Backerkit is open! Smoke Test has begun! Plus: Wargamer interview!
over 2 years ago – Sun, Sep 12, 2021 at 11:03:09 AM

Hi Everyone!

Just a quick note to let everyone know that BACKERKIT IS UP and the Smoke Test has begun!

For those of you who aren't familiar with Backerkit's survey process, the "Smoke Test" is a limited test run where surveys are sent to just 5% of the backer list to make sure that there aren't any questions or technical issues to fix before sending out the full batch of surveys. Hopefully, by now we've gotten good enough at setting these up so that there aren't any technical issues, but it's still a good practice.

If you're one of the lucky 5%, please do us a favor and respond as soon as you're able so that we can be sure things are working properly. If you aren't sure, watch for an email from "Magnetic Press Play <[email protected]>" -- the message content will look something like this:

Follow the link and then the step-by-step instructions to complete your survey. If you notice anything that seems wrong or if you have any questions, please send us a message! That's the purpose of the smoke test: to weed out any technical issues.

Normally this process only takes 24hours, so assuming everything goes as smoothly as expected, the rest of you should get your surveys within the next 48 hours (sometime on Monday).

We have also opened up the Backerkit Pre-order store, so if you or anyone you know missed out on the campaign, you can still join the party! Just go to www.carbon-grey.com, which admittedly points to the Kickstarter page, but there is a button to the pre-order store ready and waiting at the top of the page. 😊

Wargamer interview!

We recently sat down with Callum over at Wargamer to talk about Carbon Grey, and they posted the interview earlier this week -- check it out!

Beyond that, we've sent the final files to the printer for the deluxe Omnibus so things are rolling right along! January is going to be like Christmas extended! We'll share more news and pix as they come in!

Thanks again, everyone!

A long restful weekend... now back to work! 😋
over 2 years ago – Wed, Sep 08, 2021 at 03:54:34 AM

Hi everyone!

It was totally coincidental and not at all planned that this campaign ended on the Friday before the 3-day Labor Day weekend, but we sure did appreciate the extra day of rest after that awesome ending. We were never so foolish as to think it would be easy, but worthwhile things rarely are. 

We're now giving the books their final proofreading so that the manufacturer can get busy printing and packaging these wonderful items for you wonderful people. 

Here's a snapshot of what's next:

• Kickstarter has already started running credit cards, and you may have likely already seen your pledge collected. If Kickstarter runs into an issue with your payment method, they will email you a notification to please provide an alternate payment method. They'll keep that up for about 7 days at which point (after a final notification), they will officially close the campaign. Anyone whose payment was unable to go through will be marked as "dropped/uncollected."  
• At that point, everyone's pledge will move into Backerkit. All of your pledge information will transfer to Backerkit, even if your pledge was marked as "dropped/uncollected", so you will still have a chance to pay your initial uncollected pledge amount later through Backerkit. 
• We are hoping to have Backerkit running and surveys sent as soon as Kickstarter closes the campaign, which should hopefully be next week.
• Our goal is to have everything in hand by December 31st so that we can start fulfillment in January. Granted, a lot of things can happen between now and then (specifically shipping congestion which amazingly continues to get worse), but we will keep everyone posted along the way.
•  Digital rewards will be distributed through a combination of Backerkit and Drivethru RPG/Comics. We will announce the release date for those when we are closer to fulfillment so that all orders can be processed at once. That will probably be in early November.  

So what can you all do in the meantime while you wait...? Here's an idea:

Our graphic novel team just launched a flash 10-day campaign for the martial arts fantasy FALSE GUARD by the author of the award-winning ASTER OF PAN! And as a backer of the CARBON GREY campaign, 

you can get FREE SHIPPING on your pledge! 

We're offering cool exclusive incentives and stretch goals, such as Day-1 and Week-1 Bonus Prints, as well as other unlockables like foil-printed bookmarks and another exclusive, collectible Challenge Coin.

But here's the cool part -- because these books are already on their way to our warehouse, we can include your FALSE GUARD pledge items with your CARBON GREY shipment AT NO EXTRA COST! Regardless of how many additional books you order! And there are several awesome books to choose from:

While they may not be games, we think most of you will enjoy any (or all) of these new titles! So please check them out and pledge (TODAY, if you'd like your copy of this FREE Day-1 Linen Cardstock Print!):

Thanks, everyone! We'll have more CARBON GREY news to share soon!

Our hearts are full to spilling over...
over 2 years ago – Mon, Sep 06, 2021 at 02:23:15 AM

You all... wow.

Just...

WOW.

Thank you!!!

Our first game campaign (under this new brand), built on a nearly forgotten ruleset, based on a relatively unfamiliar IP, offering a box full of manufactured minis and other high-production items... it was an admittedly steep hill we set out to climb. And while the first leg of the journey was harder and slower than we thought it would be, we are beyond humbled by the support that gathered in the weeks that followed, leading to an exhilarating final 48 hours. 

We have learned a LOT from this experience. Running a campaign in the Gaming category is MUCH DIFFERENT than running one in the Comics category! The responsiveness and expectations of gamers are completely different from those of Comic readers. And we are embracing those differences! We've got so much in store for 2021-22 and beyond... this really is just the beginning.

AND YOU CAN SAY YOU WERE THERE...!

We're going to take an overdue (and deserved) break for the evening to celebrate, but will be setting up Backerkit this weekend so that we can transition into post-campaign sales quickly.

Kickstarter will start collecting pledges shortly, yaddayaddayadda, y'know what...? 

We'll put all of that "next step" stuff in an update tomorrow.

Tonight, we celebrate.

CHEERS!